ICELAND

The story

Love or hate the fact the entire country as been overthrown with tourism, most instances of which oppose the eco-friendly philosophy, the country is one of the most beautiful places I've ever encountered. From burning lava fields to iceberg filled lakes. The glaciers, mountains, sunsets and black sand beaches surpass any visual I've seen on this earth to date. In 2016, mere days after the release of the Canon 5D mark IV, I travelled to this beautiful destination to capture a film I'd been planning for years prior. This, is my Iceland.

Anybody who has followed my photographic/videographic career throughout the years knows how long Iceland had been in my cross hairs to visit and produce a film capturing its beauty. Since roughly 2005 when I first discovered the ethereal music of Sigur Rós, an obsession was developed with the Icelandic language and its culture. Musically, few places compare to the pedigree of what's produced within this Nordic island nation, and as a filmmaker, the visual story that comes with the listening experience of such artists creates a thirst that must be quenched.

The irony, however, is that after almost 10 years of mentally developing a visual screenplay to compliment the soundscapes, feelings and atmospheres of Jonsi's voice, I hadn't accounted for the fact that at the drop of a hat, everything can change. Upon arriving at the nation's capital Reykjavik, moments after docking with the gate, a voice over the P.A. announced that all inbound and outbound flights had been cancelled until further notice. Hurricane Nicole had just arrived off the Atlantic, and the entire country became locked down in the fury of cyclonic winds. With barely any sleep through the first night due to the deafening howl of winds in excess of 230 km/h, it was evident that the original plan must now be altered, and a video entirely reactive to my surroundings was all that could be made.

This, is that outcome - and I wouldn't have it any other way.

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Featuring Bryce Magnusson, Prue Cruickshank and myself, with music Hrafntinna by Sigur Rós.

One of the most challenging parts as a visual storyteller is remembering the names of the locations we visited during the filming of this movie. With characters that could have only appeared after spilling food on the first map of the country's geography, I couldn't even begin to assume what sounds one should make to accurately announce this specific location.

We're lucky, our generation. The world is our oyster, and it's there to explore. With the smallest ounce of effort, it's possible to stand at the literal edge of our perceived universe and stare blankly into the vast nothingness. I recommend you try it, as often as physically possible.

Is there a more iconic Icelandic photograph? The infamous DC-10. The remains of a wrecked fuselage located on the black stone beaches along the southern coast, it is truly a marvel to see in this detail.

Printed on the highest quality pearl photo paper, and mounted in a black edge frame behind glass, this is truly one of the best ways to view planet earth from the comfort of your living room.